Lin Lei was eager to obtain a proper weapon, and Monroe Dawson decided right away that they should go see Master Vincent. Monroe Dawson, Lin Lei, Yeru, Rein, George, and several others made their way to the manor gates not far away.
"Lord Chairman!" The gate guard recognized Monroe Dawson at once and bowed respectfully.
Some of the servants and guards at the Hyde estate had been personally arranged by Monroe Dawson. They were, in effect, part of the Dawson Trading Company.
"Lord Dawson is here?" A middle-aged man who had been quietly resting in the front courtyard immediately stood up and walked over, his face full of gratitude. "Lord Dawson, if you wanted to see me, you only needed to send word. I would have come to you myself."
Vincent was indeed deeply grateful to Monroe Dawson.
For the better part of the past year, Monroe Dawson had been extremely friendly and courteous to the Hyde family, never asking for anything in return. During their recent flight, if not for the Dawson Trading Company's people in the Ham Kingdom, even more members of the Hyde family would have perished.
"Ha ha, let's talk inside first." Monroe Dawson gave Vincent a hearty clap on the shoulder.
"Of course."
In the great hall.
Vincent of the Hyde family, Vincent's father, and Vincent's two sons had all come out.
"Mr. Vincent, come, let me introduce you." Monroe Dawson smiled and gestured toward Lin Lei. "My son and his two friends, you already know. But this one here is the talented mage I've told you about before. He is..."
"Lin Lei of the Baruch Family. A master sculptor and a magical genius." Vincent finished the sentence for him.
At the same time, Vincent's eyes lit up as he looked at Lin Lei. Even his two sons and his father behind him stared at Lin Lei in surprise.
"Lin Lei, you should know about my Hyde family, shouldn't you?" There was a special emotion in Vincent's eyes. Both the Hyde family and the Baruch Family had fallen from their former glory, but deep down, they were still proud.
The four ultimate warrior families — lineages with over five thousand years of history.
That pride ran in their very bones. Even in decline, they held themselves high in their hearts.
When the scions of two ultimate warrior families met, there was indeed a special resonance between them.
"The Purple Flame Warrior family," Lin Lei said modestly. "In the inherited texts of my Baruch Family, there are detailed records of the Hyde family, fellow holders of an ultimate warrior bloodline."
Hearing this, Vincent felt a swell of pride and found Lin Lei even more agreeable.
"Lin Lei, let me introduce you. This is my eldest son, Meteor Hyde, and this is my younger son, Terei Hyde." Vincent was clearly quite satisfied with his sons. "Lin Lei, both my sons have considerable talent. But compared to you, there's still quite a gap."
Meteor and Terei merely nodded, but the hint of defiance in their eyes made it clear they didn't fully believe their father's claim that they were inferior to Lin Lei.
"Ha ha, all right, Mr. Vincent. I've come today to ask a favor of you." Monroe Dawson said directly.
Vincent immediately replied with generous spirit: "Lord Dawson, just say the word. If it's something I can do, I'll do my utmost." Over the past year, the Dawson Trading Company had done a great deal for the Hyde family, yet the Hydes had not been able to repay even a fraction of that kindness.
After all, there had never been a single thing the Dawson Trading Company needed from them.
Owing such a debt was no comfortable feeling.
Monroe Dawson smiled and pointed at Lin Lei. "Lin Lei would like a weapon forged. He's hoping you'll make it for him."
"Forged a weapon?" Vincent looked at Lin Lei and asked, "Lin Lei, is this for you personally?"
"Yes." Lin Lei nodded.
A trace of gratification appeared in Vincent's eyes, and he nodded. "Right! How can the scion of an ultimate warrior family be frail and weak? You should train as a warrior, and you deserve a fine weapon. Tell me, what are your requirements?"
Both Vincent and his two sons—
When they had learned Lin Lei was a magical genius, there had been a small thorn in their hearts. In their view, the four ultimate warrior families should produce invincible warriors. Now that Lin Lei wanted their help forging a weapon, they actually felt rather pleased.
"A heavy sword," Lin Lei said slowly. "Mr. Vincent, I'm currently one meter ninety tall. You decide the length of the sword. You should know what length is appropriate for my height."
Vincent looked somewhat puzzled. "A heavy sword? Not a giant war blade?"
A war blade and a heavy sword were two different categories.
"A heavy sword," Lin Lei confirmed.
"All right. Any other requirements?" As patriarch of the Purple Flame Warrior family, Vincent's clan were not only powerful warriors but also skilled in the forging of weapons.
Lin Lei took out a bundle from his back. "I'd like the material for this heavy sword to include this."
From the bundle, he produced a palm-sized, dark black stone.
Judging by its surface alone, Vincent could not tell that this dark stone was 'Black Jade Stone.' After all, even he had never seen one before. He asked with puzzlement, "What is this stone called?"
"Black Jade Stone," Lin Lei answered directly.
"Black Jade Stone?" Vincent, along with his father and two sons, stared in shock at the palm-sized dark stone in Lin Lei's hand.
Vincent suppressed his astonishment and said to Lin Lei, "May I see it?"
"Of course."
Vincent carefully took the Black Jade Stone. Though he had never seen one before, he knew Black Jade Stone was extraordinarily heavy and had been prepared. Sure enough…